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Being a Cat: a tail of curiosity – Maria Gianferrari. Pictures by Pete Oswald
Harper Collins Australia August 2023 It seems that for most people it’s either one or the other. Cats or Dogs (always one of my most popular weekly ‘This or That’ votes in my libraries!) For me, it’s cats. I’ve owned dogs and loved dogs but I find it hard to live without a cat. Although,…
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How to Write a Poem – Kwame Alexander & Deanna Nikaido. Art by Melissa Sweet.
Harper Collins Australia October 2023 I really think this is one of the ‘prettiest’ picture books I’ve seen this year. I actually received it months ago but it was far too early to post a review so I’ve had it sitting in drafts for yonks! So then I decided I should save it for Picture…
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If Our World Were 100 Days – Jackie McCann/Aaron Cushley
Harper Collins Australia September 2023 For the nerdy child in me, this is fabulous. For the boomer-brain in me, it was a little hard to wrap my head around. I’m guessing because as an older person, I’m quite OK with thinking about the concept of time, but I’m also perfectly sure that kiddos will be…
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What’s in a Dumpling, Grandma: Linda Meeker. Illustrated by Sandra Eide.
Harper Collins Australia November 2023 Earlier this year, I spent a day learning to make Tibetan momos – dumplings. And not only was it fun, but it made me think about dumplings in general, and how many different cultures have these delicious little parcels of yumminess in their culinary catalogue. Of course, they are not…
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Not-So-Little Red Riding Hood – Michael Rosen. Illustrated by David Melling.
Harper Collins Australia October 2023 Honestly, when have you ever read anything less than wonderful by Michael Rosen? Exactly! This is a really fun update on the traditional fairy tale, that will sit beautifully with a unit of work on fractured fairytales or innovations on traditional stories, as well as being just plain fun to…
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Wombats are Pretty Weird: a [not so] serious guide – Abi Cushman
Harper Collins Australia October 2023 Here in the land of Down Under, we are pretty relaxed about wombats. They are, for many of us, the most loveable buffoons of the marsupial clan. They have been immortalised in literally dozens of picture books, including, so notably, Jackie French’s wombat series, ensuring that our kiddos are pretty…
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Ancestory: [the mystery and majesty of ancient cave art] – Hannah Salyer
Harper Collins Australia October 2023 The publisher describes this as a ‘winning combo of art and science’ and really, I can’t say better myself. To be honest, though of course I’m well aware that many other countries have examples of fine prehistoric cave art, I had always been more or less only interested in our…
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Picture Book Month bonus #2: Millie Mak the Maker [Millie Mak 1] – Alice Pung. Illustrated by Sher Rill Ng.
Harper Collins Australia August 2023 As I have said before, one positive to come out of Covid was a renewed focus on renew/repair/recycle initiatives and slow living. Millie Mak may be only 9 years old but she’s a very good example of this. I am so on board with Millie and her Scottish grandma checking…
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